WP Builds

Birgit Pauli-Haack is a developer advocate for WordPress at Automattic and curator at Gutenberg Times, while Fabian Kaegy leads editorial engineering at 10up. They dive into the latest WordPress 6.8 release, showcasing new features like detail blocks, style books, and improved gallery tools. The discussion also covers the shift to slower releases, the integration of AI tools like ClassifAI, and strategies for smooth migration from classic to block-based themes, making WordPress more user-friendly for everyone.

Episode 333 of "This Week in WordPress," hosted by Nathan Wrigley with guests Wendie Huis in t Veld, Dave Grey, and John Overall, covers WordPress news and community updates. They discuss canonical plugins, particularly their use for accessibility improvements and the debate over whether such features should be in WordPress core or as separate plugins. WordPress 6.8.1's release is highlighted, along with the upcoming Page Builder Summit and speaking opportunities at WPLDN. The episode touches on challenges in launching and marketing new WordPress products, strategies for broader reach, and the newly updated WordPress Mercantile swag store. Other topics include observations from the recent PressConf event, reinstating previously banned WordPress.org contributor accounts, trends in global WordPress contributions, emerging email tools like MailerPress, and both the benefits and frustrations of AI in customer support. The hosts emphasise inclusivity, community growth, and the evolving landscape of WordPress.

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Arpit G Shah, founder of Creative Work Designs, about WPSyncSheets plugins. Arpit shares how his tools enable bi-directional syncing of WordPress and WooCommerce data with Google Sheets, making tasks like import/export, inventory management, and bulk edits easier, no need to manage data directly within WordPress. He also discusses pricing, large-scale data handling, upcoming AI features, and future plans for integrating with other platforms like Airtable. This episode is perfect for anyone looking to streamline WordPress and WooCommerce data workflows. If you’re a WordPress or WooCommerce user who relies on Google Sheets, or wishes their site and their spreadsheets “just talked to each other”, this episode is for you.

Another week, and we're bringing you the latest WordPress news from the last seven days. Join Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette and Tim Nash. We cover the PressConf event highlights, discuss the new Theme Switcher Pro plugin, and explore Joost’s reflections on unintended consequences in SEO tools. We share updates on Patchstack security alerts, and WordPress 6.8, mention upcoming events like WordCamp Canada, and introduce Tim Nash’s new WordPress security course. There's chat about new tools including BetterFox for Firefox and WP Descriptor for AI-generated image alt tags. The episode is lighthearted, featuring fun audience banter inspired by a mysterious “of the chickens” sign, as well as practical and community news from the WordPress ecosystem.

In this episode, I talk with Gabriella Laster, Product Marketing Director at Elementor, about the upcoming Elementor v4 release. Gabriella explains why a major codebase rewrite was needed, highlighting significant performance improvements, a new CSS-first approach, more intuitive UI changes, and enhanced workflow features. She reassures existing users that v3 and v4 will coexist, ensuring a smooth transition without breaking sites. The episode also covers their commitment to developer documentation, ongoing user education, and no planned pricing changes. You can expect incremental rollouts throughout 2025 with opportunities to participate in early testing. If you rely on Elementor for your livelihood, or even just your own website, and want to know what Elementor v4 will mean for you, this episode is for you.

The WordPress news from the last week which commenced Monday 14th April 2025. Join Nathan Wrigley, Mark Westguard, Wendie Huis in 't Veld, Steve Burge as we talk about the WordPress news from this week. We discuss the upcoming Page Builder Summit, the release of WordPress 6.8 (the only major update for 2025), and new features like speculative loading for faster page speed. We explore the environmental and practical impacts of prefetching, the shift to an annual WordPress release cadence, and concerns about AI’s growing role in web development. The panel also touches on community events like WordCamp Europe, the importance of human connection, and shares news about plugins, accessibility tools, and open-source site projects.

Sherry Holub, a talented WordPress agency owner and graphic design expert, shares her unique approach to crafting customized websites. She highlights her transition from traditional design to leveraging custom fields in WordPress, allowing for highly adaptable and tailored solutions. The conversation dives into the importance of blending creativity with functionality, particularly for small businesses and nonprofits. Sherry also discusses the evolving landscape of web design, emphasizing simplicity, flexibility, and the necessity of purposeful design.

In "This Week in WordPress #330," Nathan Wrigley, Taco Verdonshot, Piccia Neri, and Corey Maas discuss various topics, starting with Google wanting merchants to share marketing emails for better service insights. Piccia introduces Canva's expansion into website building and promotes her course on accessible data visualisations. Corey presents his new Chrome extension, Pause Tab, designed to help manage browser tabs more effectively. The episode also highlights the sale of the Newsletter Glue plugin by Leslie Sim, stressing its impact on the WordPress community. Additionally, there's excitement around WP APAC, a new collective for WordPress professionals in the Asia Pacific. They discuss WordPress 6.8's upcoming release, the final for 2025, and the implications of reduced WordPress releases' perception. Lastly, the conversation touches on controversial ads appearing in the block editor and Progress Planner's integration with Yoast SEO for improved site maintenance.

In this episode of "The Nice Show" from WP Builds, hosts Nathan Wrigley and Mark Westguard discuss the importance of positivity. They share stories of meeting nice people, like Derek Ashauer and Miriam Schwab, and mention useful WordPress plugins like Conversion Bridge. They explore online tools like Loveable for web design and highlight community events like PressConf, WP Accessibility Day, and the Page Builder Summit. The conversation lightens with real-world anecdotes, delightful short videos, and curious news about bringing extinct animals back to life, all in the spirit of spreading niceness.

The WordPress news from the last week with Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Tammie Lister, Tim Nash. We discuss a variety of WordPress topics. Michelle launches a new events-focused podcast with Bob WP, and starts a weekly series of talks at Post Status. We explore potential alternatives to Figma, Automattic's recent workforce restructuring, and the implications of a reduced WordPress release cadence. We also cover upcoming events like Press Conf and the Page Builder Summit, and discuss the challenges of engaging Gen Z with WordPress, highlighting the need for modern design and effective communication.